By Philip Yatai

The Security Affairs Limited has mobilised social media bloggers and online journalists to support the Nigerian Army in its effort to curb the lingering insecurity and promote lasting peace in the country.  

The Executive Director, Security Affairs, Mr Austin Peacemaker, said at the 15^th Edition of Social Media Influencers Seminar for social media bloggers and online journalists in Kaduna on Monday, that the support was crucial to winning the war against insecurity.

“We believe the Nigerian Army is our army, we should be patriotic and fair to them in promoting and supporting them to succeed in the campaign against terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity.

He explained that the seminar was first conducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, later Maiduguri, Owerri, Ibadan, Lagos, among other locations across the states.

Peacemaker, an ECOWAS Youth Ambassador said that the essence of the seminar was to, among other things, bridge the gap between the Nigerian Army and the civilian populace.

“We came up with this initiative to ensure that there is continuous dialogue in a good democracy, we believe if we talk, engage and rub minds we won’t fight nor clash,” he said.

“While they are willing to tell us the story about the Nigerian Army, we should rub minds with them and discuss our concerns,” he said.

Earlier, Chief of Civil Military Affair, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye , said that the Nigerian Army was mobilizing social media bloggers and online journalists in the country to eradicate fake news syndrome.

Kangye, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Egbe, said that the event was organised by the Department of Civil Military Affairs of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Security Affairs Limited.  

The event has as its theme, “Civil – Military Relations: The Evolving Role of the Social Media in Support of Nigerian Army’s Non-Kinetic Line of Operations”.

He said that cyberspace was the latest domain of modern warfare, adding that social media presents a veritable tool in influencing and shaping public opinion, critical in deciding the outcome of battles.

He said that the interactive session was organised to provide an opportunity to freely interact, discuss, share ideas, and rub minds particularly towards eradication of fake news syndrome.

According to him, security is everybody’s business, stressing that social media bloggers and online journalists have a very important role to play in the promotion of peace and security in the country.

“This is because what you say, the way you say it and how it spreads have far reaching implications than most of us think.

“As such, social media has a very crucial role to play in support of the Nigerian Army’s non kinetic line of operations as well as shaping public opinion.

The chief of civil military affairs said that there was so much that social media can do in support of Nigerian Army operations across the country.

“For instance, the recent surrendering of Boko Haram insurgents and their humane reception by the Nigerian military has been perceived negatively by the online community, and by extension Nigerians.

“However, these developments ought to be a testimony of the effectiveness of the efforts put in place by the military to defeat insurgency.

He said that tackling insecurity generally involves the use of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

He said that the approaches were complementary, stressing that encouraging criminals to surrender does not mean they would evade prosecutions for crimes committed.

“Therefore, it is necessary for social media bloggers and online journalists to know and enlighten the populace on the dangers of misinformation or misinterpretation for the general security of our dear nation,” he said.

Kangye said that the Nigerian Army was making giant strides in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other forms of criminality in the country.

He however pointed out that such efforts were always under-reported, thereby undermining the unrelenting efforts and sacrifices of selfless soldiers at tackling insecurity.

He added that conversely, most media houses prefer to propagate sensitive reportage that scare and attract negative attention rather than headlines geared towards celebrating the gallantry and efforts of the Nigerian troops.

“Our media give credence to the activities of criminals as well as boost their morale and confidence to commit more crimes.

“It is my belief that our interaction and cross-fertilization of ideas will make Nigerians better informed imbibe in us the spirit of patriotism towards the realisation of a prosperous Nigeria of our dreams,” he said.